UK vaping and smoking rule changes in full as costs increase significantly

The price of smoking and vaping in the UK is set to skyrocket under laws being introduced later this year.

According to recent statistics released by Action on Smoking and Health, around 13 percent of British adults smoke cigarettes, while an estimated 60 percent use vapes.

With the number of smokers decreasing, concerns have turned to the rising popularity of e-cigarettes.

While vaping is currently considered to be a safer alternative for smokers looking to quit or cut down, current health guidelines advise against non-smokers taking up the habit.

There is a particular concern around vaping in young people, with figures estimating that around 20 percent of young people aged 11 to 17 have tried vaping at least once.

The price of vape liquid will go up in October (Getty Stock Images)

In response, the UK government is committed to a crackdown on the availability of vapes, which includes bringing in a ban on disposable vapes last year.

And now vapes are set to become a lot more expensive.

Coming into effect on 1 October, 2026, The Vaping Products Duty will see the prices of vapes and e-cigarette liquids rise.

Under the new legislation, e-liquids will increase by £2.20 per 100ml, regardless of the strength of nicotine.

For example, a 10ml bottle of vape liquid will go from £3.99 to £6.63 (including VAT) while a 50ml bottle will increase from £11.99 to £25.20.

Meanwhile, tobacco-based products are also set to increase in price, in order to make sure that vaping remains the cheaper option for Brits.

This means that a price increase of £2.20 will be applied to every 100 cigarettes (or 50g of tobacco) on the same day.

Explaining the rationale behind the price hike, the government said the changes are part of its commitment to 'reducing the affordability and appeal of vaping products, particularly among young people and non-smokers, while maintaining the financial incentive for smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives'.

Tobacco prices will also increase, to make sure that vaping remains a cheaper alternative (Getty Stock Images)

The changes are in line with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is aimed at making smoking and vaping less affordable and attractive to younger people. This includes historic guidelines which mean anyone born after 1 January 2009 will never be able to purchase tobacco.

The bill is currently going through parliament and is expected to come into law by early 2027.

Is vaping a safer alternative to smoking?

Current NHS guidelines state that 'each puff on a vape carries a small fraction of the risks of a puff on a cigarette' and that using e-cigarettes is an effective way for smokers to quit.

However, this does not mean that vaping in itself is healthy, with a recent study suggesting that vapers have an increased risk of developing cancer.